Propeller guard



March 8 1927. I

G. PETERSON PROPELLER GUARD Filed NOV. 17, 1925 6 4W) 7 v 0 I X? 2.3 i)\ =1 24 WITNESSES 21 Z INVENTOR 2 Gaz a i'ems'oru.

ATTORNEYS PATENT OFFICE.

GABULL PETERSON, 0F TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA.

PROPELLEB GUARD.

Application filed November 17, 1925. Serial No. 69,686.

This invention relates to an improvement in propeller guards and aims to provide a device of this character which is so constructed and mounted as to be read1ly and easily shifted from an operative position wherein it encases the propeller to an in-- operative position wherem it leaves the propeller unhindered in its action. It s also proposed to mount the guard so that it may be removed entirely if desired.

Another object resides in the provision of a device of this character which is of simple and durable construction, reliable and efiicient in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointedout in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming .a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a propeller guard applied to a boat;

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation showing the guard illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the construction of the mounting employed for each guard member.

Referring to the drawings the. numeral 1 designates generally the hull of a boat of the type used for diving purposes and in the sponge-fishing fleets. boat there is provided a keel extension 2 which extends centrally and vertically of the boat. The keel extension 2 has an opening 3 to accommodate the propeller 4. A

rudder 5 is mounted on the keel extension 2 and may be controlled by a tiller 6.

The present invention provides a guard which consists ofa pair of similar guard members, designated at 10 and disposed on the opposite sides of the extension 2 whereby to completely encase, protect and guard the propeller. Each guard 10 is mounted on a sleeve or tubular shaft 11 and comprises a main frame member 12 of approximately U-shaped form having its ends welded or otherwise suitabl connected to the sleeve 11. A cross mem or 13 is provided and has its ends welded to the legs of the main frame member. The guard is completed by parallel rods 12 having their ends welded to the sleeve 11 and the main frame 12 and At the stern of thesecured at points intermediate their ends to the cross member 13 and by cross wires 15 interlaced with or otherwise suitably secured to the rods 11 and main frame.

Each sleeve 11 is rotatably and slidably fitted on a shaft 20 having a ball 21 at its lower end, the ball 21 of each shaft being universally fitted in a socket 22 fastened to the keel extension 2. A releasable catch 23 is provided for the upper end of each shaft and is designed to releasably hold and secure each shaft 20 in fixed position on the hull of the boat.

A handle 24 is fixed to each sleeve 11 ad acent its upper end and provides a means whereby the sleeve may be readily turned to vary the angular position of the guards thereon or may be readily slid on its shaft 20 to effect removal of the guards. A releasable catch 25 is provided for each handle 24 and is designed to hold the handle in such position that the guard on the sleeve controlled by the handle is in operative relation with respect to the propeller.

With this arrangement when a guard is needed it is available and when not needed the guard does not hamper the action of the propeller and slow up the boats. Another advantage resides in the fact that by swinging the sleeve 11 to swing the guard away from the propeller it may be readily cleared of dbris or the like.

The present invention is particularly useful 1n connection with boats used for diving purposes. In sponge fishing it is necessary to have the propeller guarded to prevent fouling of the life line and hose but as the range of travel of the boats ofthe sponge fishing fleet ranges from a distance thirtyfive (35) to seventy-five (75) miles out to sea the guards heretofore used have been a heavy handicap since they hamper the propeller in its action and slow up the boat. The present invention provides a guard which is available when needed but which does not hamper the propeller and slow up the boat when travelling to and from the scene of operation.

As shown in Figure 1 the forward portion of each frame 12 of each guard member may be engaged under clips 30 fastened to the keel extension 2 to hold the guard members more firmly in position. The unithe catches 23 and 25 are released. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the clips 30 may be omitted and the catches 24 alone relied on to maintain the guard members in position.

I claim 1. A propeller guard comprising a pair of open-work guard members, separate means for removably and adjustably mounting each guard member on the hull of the boat in co-operative relation with the pro-.

peller thereof, each of said means comprising a shaft having a universal mounting on the boat, releasable means for holding the shaft in 0 erative position, a sleeve rotatably and slida ly fitted on the shaft and adapted to be pulled off of the shaft, each sleeve carrying a guard member, and releasable means for holding the sleeve in position on the shaft.

2. A propeller guard comprising a pair of open-Work guard members, separate means for removably and adjustably mounting each guard member on the hull of the boat in co-operative relation with the propeller thereof, each of said means comprising a shaft having a universal mounting on the boat, releasable means for holding the shaft in inoperative position, a sleeve rotatably and slidably fitted on the shaft and adapted to be pulled elf of the shaft, each sleeve carrying a guard member, and releasable means for holding the sleeve in position on the shaft and comprising a handle fixed to the sleeve and projecting laterally therefrom, and a catch mounted on the boat and co-operable with the handle, said handle also being adapted to be used to pull the sleeve ofi of the shaft.

3. In combination with a boat having a' ull and a propeller, a pair of open-work guard members for the propeller, each guard member including a wire frame and an open work body carried by the frame, a separate means for removably and adjustably mounting each guard member on the hull of tl1' boat, each of said means comprising a shaft in adjusted position, and means on the hull co-operable with the frame of each guard member to aid in holding the guard member in operative position.

4. In combination with a boat having a hull provided with a keel extension formed with an opening and a propeller operating in the opening of the 'keel extension, a pair of open-work. guard members disposed on the opposite sides of the keel extension and co-operable to encase the propeller, and separate means for removably and adjustably mounting each guard member on the keel extension and the hull, each of said means comprising a shaft having its lower end mounted for universal movement on the keel extension, a releasable catch on the hull for the upper end of each shaft, a sleeve shaft rotatably, slidably and removably fit ted on each of said shafts, each of said sleeve shafts carrying one of said guard members, a laterally extending handle fixed to each sleeve shaft, and a cage mounted on the keel extension for each handle.

GABULL PETERSON. 

